Guide to Industrial Tri-Clamp Fittings in Beer Manufacturing

Every professional brewer knows how critically important it is to have a well-sanitized manufacturing process. At one time or another, most of us have experienced the frustration of a contaminated batch of beer. For commercial breweries, this can result in considerable financial losses from wasted materials and time. So how can you ensure that the fittings in your beer making process are as hygienic and safe as possible? You can achieve this by using the best possible components in the areas of your brewery that will be most susceptible to contamination (areas such as: pipe, tubing, and hose unions). The most common and effective connection components to include in your commercial or micro-brewery are tri-clamp fittings. In this article, we explore the application of sanitary tri-clamp fittings in brewing and a few best practices to keep in mind when stocking supplies for your brewery. Keep reading to find out if you could be using tri-clamp fittings more effectively in your business.

What exactly are tri-clamp fittings?

Tri-clamp fittings are sanitary fittings that are used to connect the process lines of your brewing system together. Each tri-clamp is made up of four different components.

On each end is a flanged ferrule that fits into the pipeline. A Gasket fits between the two ferrules and seals the connection. These components are held firmly together by a clamp with a wingnut to tighten it up.

Tri-clamps come in a range of sizes for different applications. These various sizes make it simple to connect to end points and process lines with the same diameter, or with differing diameters using prefabricated reducers. Choosing the right diameter Tri-clamp can sometimes be confusing, though. The important thing to remember is that the size is determined by the outside diameter of the stainless-steel tubing it is welded to, rather than the diameter of the ferrule’s flange or any connected hose. If you’re unsure about what size clamp you need for your brewing system, you can read our Glacier Tanks Tri-Clamp Dimensions & Sizing Guide to understand which size and type to choose.

Benefits of using tri-clamp fittings over other kinds of unions.

One of the most important design features of Tri-Clamps is that they do not contain any threads. Threaded unions (such as NPT, BSP, etc.) are a great place for sugars or grains to get caught, and since threads are difficult to CIP (clean-in-place), they offer a perfect location for bacteria and foreign molds to grow inside of process lines. Instead of threads, tri-clamps utilize a clamped union which sandwiches a gasket in between two flanges for a seamless, threadless seal. This seamless connection in your product flow line is part of what makes a tri-clamp a “sanitary” connection. CIP procedures can be utilized without the need for disassembly of the product line or any special cleaning. For busy breweries that run multiple batches a day, this can be a considerable time-saver.

Moreover, another significant advantage of using tri-clamp fittings is that they are simple to take apart for service or sanitization of individual parts. This is particularly important for high-volume commercial breweries that need to replace gaskets more often. All stainless-steel construction and highly polished surfaces ensure that the surfaces are smooth and can easily be cleaned, round out the attributes necessary to make this connection type sanitary and long-lasting.

Choosing the correct gasket and clamp combination for your processes.

Gasket material should be the first consideration for your tri-clamp union. Process temperatures and chemicals/solvents are major factors in gasket selection. Different gaskets are used for various temperatures, and there are FDA certified versions of most gasket materials for users who are under more stringent regulatory standards. Below is a comparison of the different types of gaskets commonly used when brewing beer. Please note that it is important to consult our Chemical Resistance Chart to verify that you select the right gasket for the particular chemicals your gasket may come into contact with during your process.

Silicone Gaskets

Silicone is one of the most commonly used gasket materials in the brewing industry. These gaskets are typically made of white or clear silicone, which allows gasket wear to be easily noticed with the naked eye. Silicone gaskets also have a broad chemical compatibility, fair resistance to ethanol, and wide operating temperature range (-58°F to 400°F) making them great general purpose, food safe gaskets.

EPDM Gaskets

These synthetic rubber gaskets are latex-free and can be used in a temperature range of -30°F to 300°F, allowing them to withstand the high temperatures of steam. They have good ethanol and caustic resistance. They also have better nitric acid and citric acid resistance than most other commonly available rubber gasket materials, which is important when passivating stainless-steel equipment.

Buna-N Gaskets

Also known as Buna Nitrile or NBR, this synthetic rubber is renowned for its high tensile strength and good resistance to alcohol. These gaskets are hygienic and latex-free. However, they have a smaller temperature range of -30°F to 200°F. This means they may not always the best choice in heated brewing applications, and they may wear faster than, say, EPDM. Buna is not recommended when passivating. They do, however, have good resistance against most oils and fair resistance against caustics, which make them valuable in certain circumstances.

PTFE Gaskets

PTFE gaskets are a plastic gasket less commonly used in brewing applications. PTFE gaskets are the ideal choice for highly corrosive environments and are best applied in the brewing industry when passivating. PTFE is a versatile material, similar to Teflon, with a broad range of resistivity to chemicals and temperatures (-100°F – 450°F), and virtually no extractables. PTFE is a plastic, however, and is subject to creep and cold flow. PTFE gaskets should be used almost exclusively with high pressure clamps. While they have a wide temperature range, they are not recommended where large temperature variations occur and are best applied to processes where temperature is stable.

What you need to know about the different types of tri-clamps.

Not all tri-clamps are created equally. Commercial applications generally require a heavy-duty tri-clamp. In this context, heavy duty applies to the weight and thickness of the clamp itself, not necessarily the type of closure the clamp utilizes. With a bit of experience, many brewers will know by instinct the robustness of a tri-clamp just by holding it in their hand. The difference in weight is noticeable and the wingnut closure feels more stable. You can rest assured that Glacier Tanks only sells heavy-duty tri-clamps.

Here is a breakdown of the different types of Tri-Clamps:

Single Hinge Clamps

These provide a cost-effective solution for most clamp connection applications. In almost all brewing applications, single hinge tri-clamps can be used effectively. They are the easiest tri-clamp to use, and experienced brewers can become proficient in operating them with one hand.

Double Hinge Clamps

These clamps are defined by a hinge with two pins but they operate much the same as single hinge clamps. Double hinge clamps have a higher pressure rating than single hinge clamps, but the unique hinge style is what is most valuable in brewing applications. Since each side of the clamp can rotate somewhat independently from the other side of the clamp, the double hinge c can allow the double hinge clamp to fit into tighter spaces.

High Pressure Clamps

These bolted clamps are usually used in high-pressure applications. They are significantly stronger than the wing-nut clamps but these situations are rare in brewing operations.

Thermocouple Clamps

These high-end clamps have four ports that can accept Smart Gasket thermocouple accessories. We recommend checking out our line of RubberFab accessories for your brewery.

How to Properly Use Tri-Clamp Fittings in Commercial Beer Making

Correctly installing your tri-clamps is an important part of keeping your brewing process sanitary. Poorly fitted tri-clamps are a safety hazard that can easily fail and cause injuries or product loss, resulting in down-time and revenue loss. Always make sure that the gasket size is properly sized for the flanged ferrules and tubing that you are using. Any bulges or gaps between the gasket and the pipe can result in an inconsistent compression of the gasket. Before the clamp is tightened, the gasket should align precisely with the flange. This will prevent any leakages from occurring and keep the internal profile as smooth as possible.

Another important part of fitting your Tri-Clamps is to tighten the wing nuts by hand. A common mistake is to use a wrench or pliers and over-tightening the clamp. There are specialized torque wrenches for tri-clamps (available on our website), but not just any wrench will do. By over-tightening the clamp, excessive force is placed on the gasket. This can easily deform the gasket and cause it to bulge out into your pipe. These bulges are the perfect place for bacteria to grow and should be avoided at all costs. Over-tightening your clamp can also damage the gasket and cause it to fail. At Glacier Tanks, we recommend tightening by hand, then using a screwdriver for a further two turns to ensure a leak-free seal.

Do You Need Tri-Clamp Fittings for the Brewing Process? Contact Glacier Tanks!

Selecting the right tri-clamp fittings and gaskets can be a confusing process. If you have any questions about what size fittings you should be using in your brewery contact our sales team at (360) 524-7745.

If you already know what fittings you would like to buy, then take a look at our range of sanitary fitting products here.

Brewing great beer is an art-form that needs the right equipment to achieve consistent success. At Glacier Tanks we stock a wide range of commercial brewing equipment and supplies for all your brewing needs.